Patent application title: Paired Artificial Nails

Abstract:

A preformed artificial nail assembly comprising a pair of artificial nails
sized to correspond to at least a portion of said natural nail, and an
application tab assembly extending between the pair of artificial nails.
The application tab assembly includes a body portion and a neck portion
adjacent each said artificial nail, said neck portion being disposed
between the body portion and the distal end of the artificial nail. The
application tab assembly may include an area of weakness that allows the
assembly to be separated into two separate tabs, one adjacent each of the
artificial nails of the pair. The user my utilize the application tab
assembly as a single unit to place the nails, or separate the assembly
into to separate tabs to allow the user to place the nails utilizing
separate tabs.

Claims:

1. A kit of preformed artificial nails, the kit comprisinga plurality of
preformed artificial nail assemblies for placement on a natural nail by a
user, said plurality comprisinga pair of artificial nails sized to
correspond to at least a portion of said natural nail,an application tab
assembly extending from each of the artificial nails of said pair, the
application tab assembly having a first end disposed adjacent one of said
artificial nails and a second end disposed adjacent the other of said
artificial nails, anda package, the artificial nails being disposed
within the package, said pair of artificial nails not being coupled to
any other nails by any structure other than said package.

2. The kit of claim 1 wherein said pair of artificial nails comprises
nails of like size.

3. The kit of claim 1 wherein the plurality of preformed artificial nail
assemblies comprises a plurality of pairs of artificial nails with
application tabs assemblies.

4. The kit of claim 1 wherein the application tab assembly comprises an
area of weakness whereby the pair may be separated into separate tabs,
such that, upon separation, said tab is attached to a respective said
artificial nail upon separation.

5. The kit of claim 4 wherein the area of weakness comprises at least one
of the following: a line of reduced thickness, a perforation, a score
line, a reduced cross-sectional area and a cut.

6. The kit of claim 1 wherein the application tab assembly includes
indicia.

7. The kit of claim 6 wherein said indicia is descriptive of said nails
attached thereto.

8. The kit of claim 6 wherein said indicia is at least one of printed on
said body or molded with said body.

10. The kit of claim 1 further comprising at least one of the following:
an adhesive, a nail wipe, a manicuring tool, a placement tool, and nail
polish.

11. The kit of claim 1 further comprising an area of weakness between the
application tab assembly and at least one of the artificial nails, said
area of weakness facilitating separation of the application tab assembly
from the artificial nail.

12. The kit of claim 11 wherein said area of weakness includes at least
one of a perforation, an area of reduced thickness, a score line, a cut,
or a reduced cross-sectional area relative to the remainder of the neck.

13. A preformed artificial nail assembly for placement on a natural nail
by a user, said artificial nail assembly comprising:a pair of artificial
nails sized to correspond to at least a portion of said natural nail,
andan application tab assembly extending from each of the artificial
nails of said pair, the application tab assembly having a first end
disposed adjacent one of said artificial nails and a second end disposed
adjacent the other of said artificial nails,said pair of artificial nails
and application tab assembly not being coupled to any other nail or
application tab assembly.

14. The preformed artificial nail assembly of claim 13 wherein said pair
of artificial nails comprises nails of like size.

15. The preformed artificial nail assembly of claim 13 wherein the
application tab assembly comprises an area of weakness whereby the pair
may be separated into separate tabs, such that, upon separation, each
said tab is attached to a respective said artificial nail upon
separation.

16. The preformed artificial nail assembly of claim 15 wherein the area of
weakness comprises at least one of the following: a line of reduced
thickness, a perforation, a score line, a reduced cross-sectional area
and a cut.

19. The preformed artificial nail assembly of claim 11 further comprising
an area of weakness between at least one of the artificial nails and the
application tab assembly, said weakened area facilitating separation of
the application tab from the artificial nail.

20. The preformed artificial nail of claim 19 wherein the area of weakness
includes at least one of a perforation, an area of reduced thickness, a
score line, a cut, or a reduced cross-sectional area.

Description:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001]The present invention relates to human nail decorations, and more
specifically the invention pertains to structure and methods for
placement of preformed artificial nails and tips for adherence to human
nails.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002]For various aesthetic reasons, many individuals wish to possess
elongated fingernails or fingernails having a more finished or polished
appearance. However, some are unable or unwilling to grow their own
natural fingernails out to the desired length. Alternately, they may not
have the time, skill, or financial wherewithal to maintain or obtain a
more finished appearance that may result from well manicured and/or
polished nails. As a result, entire industries have developed around the
artificial supplementation and enhancement of natural nails. Such
enhancements may range from manicuring and polishing of natural
fingernails to individually building artificial nails on the natural nail
and nail form from an acrylic powder and liquid which chemically bond to
the nail surface as the artificial nail is built. Between these two
extremes, are preformed, artificial nails that are glued or otherwise
bonded to a person's own naturally occurring fingernails. Such nails are
readily available to a wide range of users through drug stores, food
stores, dollar store and department stores. Such preformed artificial
nails may be clear or opaque, and/or prepolished and/or decorated to
provide the desired appearance.

[0003]Artificial nails are commonly made from molded thermoplastic and are
available in a wide range of lengths and styles. One broad category of an
artificial nail style is the full nail form. As its name implies, the
full nail form simulates the entire human fingernail and includes a
proximate edge intended to overlay substantially the entire nail bed and
a distal free edge which is intended to extend beyond the fingertip of
the wearer. The proximate edge is shaped to be disposed substantially
adjacent or abut against the cuticle of the finger. The distal free edge
may have any of various lengths and shapes, such as oval, square, or
flared, depending upon the desired look. Preferably, the artificial nail
is sufficiently durable and rigid to withstand the hazards inherent in
its use.

[0004]In contrast, nail tips do not simulate the complete nail, but,
rather, only the free edge and, typically, a small extended portion to
cover only a portion of the nail bed in order to facilitate attachment to
the nail. In use, nail tips are secured to the edge of the nail bed
adjacent the free edge and the tip only. Tips are often utilized with the
construction of acrylic nails or gel nails.

[0005]Manufacturers typically provide users with a range of nail sizes,
e.g., identified by size numbers 0-9, to accommodate most nail sizes.
Generally, artificial nails are packaged together in sets including a
range of different sizes so that the purchaser receives differently
artificial nails for their different fingers. In addition to the set of
different sized artificial nails, the package may also include liquid
adhesive, peel-off adhesive pads, and/or preplaced tacky adhesive for
bonding the artificial nails to the purchaser's natural fingernails.

[0006]Artificial nails are provided in a variety of lengths ranging from
relatively long nails having either a straight profile or arched profile,
to relatively short nails, which more closely simulate well groomed
natural nails. In placement of the artificial nail on a user's natural
nail, the adhesive is typically applied either directly to the user's
natural nail bed or to the nail bed portion of the artificial nail. The
artificial nail is then placed on the user's natural nail bed with the
proximal end of the artificial nail disposed at or near the user's
cuticle, and pressure is applied to ensure the desired adhesion of the
artificial nail to the user's natural nail. Inasmuch as the adhesive used
in placing artificial nails is generally tacky, it is difficult to make
adjustments to the position of the artificial nail on the natural nail
once initial placement is made. Attempts to reposition the artificial
nail relative to the natural nail or to remove and replace the artificial
nail may result in either a substandard appearance to the artificial
nail, or time consuming additional cleaning of the artificial nail and
repetition of the placement process. As a result, it is important that
the artificial nail be placed at the desired position on the natural nail
at the first attempt so as to avoid the need to remove and reposition the
nail.

[0007]Longer artificial nails typically extend well beyond the free edge
of the user's natural nails. Consequently, in placing relatively long
artificial nails on the user's natural nails, one may generally utilize
the extended free edge of the artificial nail to hold the artificial nail
prior to placement, and to manipulate and accurately position the
artificial nail on the user's nail bed. When utilizing smaller artificial
nails, however, the free edge is very short, and does not extend far
beyond the user's natural nail or finger tip, if at all. Accordingly,
such short nails can be particularly difficult to accurately place on the
user's natural nail by simply grasping the artificial nail using one's
fingers.

[0008]As a result, manufacturers have proposed various tools to allow for
holding and placing artificial nails during application. One such tool
comprises an elongated rod with a tacky adhesive pad or tape at the end
of the tool to grip the artificial nail, such as the tools shown in U.S.
Pat. No. 6,220,250 to Park and the tool marketed by Sally Hanseng. This
tacky, adhesive pad, however, has proven unreliable in use, however,
inasmuch as the retaining force exerted by the adhesive on the artificial
nail typically deteriorates over time such that it does not exert a
consistent retaining force on the artificial nail. Moreover, should the
adhesive pad become contaminated with dust or the like, it becomes
generally useless in that it does not exhibit adequate force to retain a
series of nails for placement.

[0009]Another such tool is shaped like a concave shovel with a shorter
opposing lip that is disposed parallel to the shovel such that a small
slot or gap is formed between the inside surface of the shovel and the
lip, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. D441,134 to Manzione and marketed by
Uptown Nails, LLC. In use, the outer, arched surface of the artificial
nail is disposed against the inside surface of the shovel with the free
edge of the artificial nail disposed in the gap between the lip and the
shovel. This tool likewise exhibits deficiencies. While the "shovel" tool
does not deteriorate with use, it is cumbersome to utilize. Should the
gap between the shovel and lip be sufficiently small to exert a retaining
force on the artificial nail, the user will typically be required to
exert an external downward, retaining force on the artificial nail when
it is placed against the natural nail in order to facilitate release of
the artificial nail by the tool. Inasmuch as the user's free hand grasps
the tool, the user must typically use a different finger from the
placement hand to exert a retaining force the placed artificial nail to
facilitate release of artificial nail from the tool. Conversely, if the
tool does not exert adequate retaining force to hold the artificial nail
during the placement process, the tool may allow artificial nail to move
within the gap, making accurate placement of the artificial nail against
the natural nail significantly more difficult.

[0010]The assignee of the present invention has proposed a tool that
utilizes a small suction cup disposed at the distal end of an elongated
rod. In applying an artificial nail to a natural nail, the user places
the suction cup on the upper surface of the artificial nail and expels
any air trapped between the cup and the nail. The user then utilizes the
tool to position the artificial nail on the natural nail. The suction cup
provides sufficient force to retain the nail during placement, yet that
force is overcome by the tackiness of the adhesive or the adhesive bond
between the artificial nail and the natural nail once properly placed.
Moreover, the retaining force of the tool typically does not deteriorate
over time. The tool is disclosed in greater detail in PCT Publication
WO06/062963A.

[0011]Manufacturers have likewise proposed severable protrusions that
extend from one or more edges of the artificial nail itself. The
protrusions are utilized to place the artificial nail and then severed
from the nail once proper placement has been achieved. For example, U.S.
Pat. No. 6,892,736 to Chinn et al. includes a tab that extends from the
distal edge of the nail. A similar arrangement is disclosed in U.S. Pat.
No. 5,005,595 to Aylott.

[0012]While nail packaging often times includes single nails displayed in
individual display wells or product bubbles, in view of space
considerations, artificial nail packaging generally includes a larger
well or space that includes a plurality of nails in loose or free
configuration. This is generally the case with both artificial nails
without application tabs, and artificial nails that include application
tabs. Such is the case with nails incorporating aspects of the design
disclosed in the '736 patent to Chinn. Nails marketed under the name
Broadway Nails--Real Life French Nail Kit include a tab and nail
arrangement shaped generally as shown in the '736 patent. The packaging
of the Real Life French Nail Kit includes a general well which encloses a
plurality of nails together in a loose configuration.

[0013]While nails are sometimes identified by a size number,
unfortunately, this loose configuration can make it difficult to locate
an artificial nail in a desired size for placement on a nail. This
problem can be aggravated in packages where the nails include an
application tab, which can cause nails to become further entangled.
Possible solutions to this dilemma include the provision of a product
bubble for each nail, respectively, or the provision of all such nails of
a package attached to a nail tree. Examples of such nail trees are
provided in the '736 patent to Chinn, as well as a number of other
references. Unfortunately, both of these solutions typically require the
use of a larger packaging arrangement than may be utilized when a large
product well is used to contain a plurality of loose nails. Such larger
packages may be undesirable when display space at a retail establishment
is limited or at a premium.

[0014]As a result, it is desirable to provide a nail placement arrangement
that overcomes these shortcomings of the prior art to provide for
accurate and reliable, repeatable placement of artificial nails. It is
further desirable that the arrangement for presentation of such nails in
a package is easy to utilize and facilitates location of desired nail
sizes, yet does not require presentation of each nail individually or on
a single tree.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0015]The invention provides a nail application tab assembly that extends
between a pair of artificial nails, preferably of the same size. The
application tab assembly generally includes an area of weakness between
the tab assembly and the respective nails to facilitate separation. The
assembly also may optionally include an area of weakness within the tab
assembly itself such that the tab assembly may be separated into two
separate tabs, each secured to a respective artificial nail. In this way,
the tab assembly may be kept as a single unit to facilitate placement of
the nails, or the assembly may be separate tabs coupled to the respective
nails. The weakened area within the tab assembly itself, and/or between
the tab assembly and the artificial nails may include, for example, a
perforation, an area of reduced thickness, a score line, or a reduced
cross-sectional area.

[0016]The tab assembly may be secured to the artificial nails at any
appropriate position. Preferably, it is disposed along the distal end of
the nail, the body of the application tab assembly extending from the
lower surfaces of the nails and/or the distal edges of the nails.
Moreover, the tab assembly may be disposed in a relatively horizontal
plane, a plane relatively vertical to one or more of the nails, or at any
angle therebetween.

[0017]The kit may further include additional items such as an adhesive, a
towelette including a cleaner, a roughening surface, a stick, and/or a
placement tool.

[0018]These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be
apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following summary
and detailed description and upon reference to the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a kit having exemplary contents,
including an artificial nail assembly according to teachings of the
invention.

[0020]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a pair of artificial nails with
application tab constructed in accordance with teachings of the
invention.

[0021]FIG. 3 is top plan view of the artificial nail assembly of FIG. 2.

[0022]FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the artificial nail assembly of
FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0023]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of an
artificial nail assembly constructed in accordance with teachings of the
invention.

[0024]FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the artificial nail assembly of FIG. 5.

[0025]FIG. 7 is a side view of the artificial nail assembly of FIGS. 5 and
6.

[0026]FIG. 8A and 8B are perspective views of a manner in which the pair
of nails may be separated.

[0027]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a pair of
artificial nails constructed in accordance with teachings of the
invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028]Turning now to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers refer to
like elements, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 a nail kit 16 comprising a
package 18 containing a plurality of preformed artificial nail assemblies
20. Each nail assembly 20 comprises an artificial nail 22 which has a
proximal end 30, adapted to be placed generally adjacent the user's
cuticle, and a distal end 32 that is generally disposed at or beyond the
end of the user's natural nail when properly placed. The area between the
proximal and distal ends 30, 32 of the artificial nail 22 generally
defines the nail bed portion 34 and the free edge 36, the nail bed
portion 34 being adapted to be placed adjacent the user's natural nail
bed and the free edge 36 being adapted to extend beyond the end of the
user's finger. The artificial nails 22 further include right and left
side edges 37, 38 with the nail 22 having a generally arched contour
between the side edges 37, 38 and a generally less arched contour between
the proximal and distal edges 31, 33.

[0029]The nail kit package 18 typically includes an outer covering 40,
here in the form of a box, having at least one transparent portion 41 for
viewing the contents of the package 20. The package 20 further includes
an inner support housing 42 that generally retains the contents of the
package 20 in position within the package 20. The inner support housing
is typically formed of a polymeric material. The inner support housing 42
generally includes a plurality of recessed areas 44, and additional
contents of the package 20 may be retained in a rear open portion of the
inner support housing 42.

[0030]In accordance with the invention, the artificial nail assembly
includes an application tab assembly 50 secured to a pair of artificial
nails 22A, 22B, the application tab assembly 50 facilitates placement of
an artificial nail 22A, 22B on a natural nail (see FIGS. 2-4). In order
to assist the user in selection and placement of the nails, the
artificial nails 22A, 22B of the pair are preferably of like size. The
application tab assembly 50 includes a body 52 for the user to grasp
during placement, and a neck 54, 56 that extends between the body 52 and
the respective nails 22A, 22B.

[0031]The neck 54, 56 attaches the body 52 to the respective nails 22 at
their distal ends 32. The nail tab arrangement may be of any suitable
design, however. For example, while the neck 54 may extend from the
distal edge 33, as shown in FIGS. 2-4, it may alternately extend from the
upper or lower surface of the artificial nail 22 or a combination of the
distal edge 33 and one or both of the upper or lower surfaces, as
explained in greater detail in application Ser. No. 11/739,371, which is
incorporated herein in its entirety for everything disclosed therein. As
shown in that application, for example, the neck may extend from the
lower surface. Such an arrangement is illustrated in FIG. 9. It will be
appreciated by those of skill in the art that when the neck is separated
from the nail in such an arrangement, the neck will not leave any sharp
edges or points protruding from the distal edge of the nail, and
subsequent manicuring, as by filing for example, may be minimized.

[0032]According to a feature of the invention, once appropriately placed,
the application tab assembly 50 may be separated from the nail 22 by any
appropriate mechanism. For example, the neck 54, 56 of the application
tab assembly 50 may include a weakened area, such as, for example, a
relatively small cross-section at the location where the neck 54, 56
meets the nail 22A, 22B, such as is as shown, for example in FIGS. 2-4, a
thinned section substantially-adjacent the nail 22, as shown, for
example, at 64, 66 in FIGS. 5-7, a perforation, a score line, or any
combination of such structures. Examples of such weakened areas are
likewise shown in application Ser. No. 11/739,371. While less desirable,
those of skill in the art will appreciate that the application tab
assembly 50 could alternately be severed from the nail 22A, 22B by a
tool, such as scissors or a blade.

[0033]An alternate example of an application tab assembly 60 according to
teachings of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 5-7. It will thus be
appreciated by those of skill in the art that the tab assembly may be of
any suitable design, so long as it couples a pair of artificial nails.
The application tab assembly 60 of this embodiment includes a slight
widening of the tab assembly 60 in the central area. Similarly, the
application tab assembly 80 may be at any appropriate orientation to the
nails 82. For example, the tab assembly 80 may be disposed at
substantially a right angle to the nails 82, as shown, for example, in
FIG. 9 and as discussed in more detailed in application Ser. No.
11/739,371. As similarly shown in FIG. 9, the tab assembly 80 may attach
to the nails 82 along a lower surface of the nail, for example.

[0034]In order to further assist the user in artificial nail choice, at
least the body 62 of the application tab assembly 60 may be sufficiently
wide to display information for the user. Thus, the tab assembly 60 may
include indicia 68 such as, for example, the size number of the
accompanying nail, the name of the manufacturer, a trademark or trade
name, the nail color or instructions. The indicia 68 may be provided on
the application tab assembly 60 by any appropriate mechanism, such as,
for example, molding the indicia into the arrangement, or printing the
indicia thereupon. In this way, such indicia 68 may facilitate the user's
choice of nail for application.

[0035]According to another feature of the invention, the application tab
assembly 60 may include an area of weakness 70 which facilitates the
separation of the application tab assembly 60 into two separate
application tabs 72, 74. As with the weakened area 54, 56, 64, 66, the
area of weakness 70 may include, for example, a relatively small
cross-section 58, such as is as shown, for example in FIGS. 2-4, a
thinned section, as shown, for example, at 70 in FIGS. 5-7, a
perforation, a score line, or any combination of such structures. As
shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the user may separate the application tab
assembly 60 into a pair of separate application tabs 72, 74, each secured
to an artificial nail 22A, 22B. Thus, the user has the option of either
applying the nails 22A, 22B from a position attached to the application
tab assembly 50, 60 as a single unit, or attached respectively to
separated tabs 72, 74.

[0036]It will be appreciated that the preformed artificial nails 22
utilized in the nail kit 18 may be of any appropriate design. For
example, the invention may likewise be utilized in connection with a nail
tip, as opposed to a full nail, as illustrated in the figures. Thus, for
the purposes of this disclosure and the claims appended hereto, the term
"nail" will be used to correspond to both a full nail and a nail tip.
Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the nail tip is
essentially the same as a full nail with the exception that the nail tip
includes only a portion that is adapted to cover only a distal portion of
the natural nail. Moreover, the nail kit may include additional items,
such as, by way of example only, an appropriate adhesive, such as is
shown in FIG. 1, a rough or emery type surface for buffing the natural
nail prior to placement of the artificial nail, a towelette including an
acetone or other substance to clean the nail prior to placement, a
rosewood stick and/or an application tool for assistance during
installation of the artificial nail onto the natural nail surface.
Further, the assembly of a pair of artificial with application tab
assembly may be fabricated by any appropriate process. By way of example
only, the may be injection molded or the like.

[0037]While this invention has been described with an emphasis upon
preferred embodiments, variations of the preferred embodiments can be
used, and it is intended that the invention can be practiced otherwise
than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention
includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the
invention as defined by the following claims.

[0038]All of the references cited herein, including patents, patent
applications, and publications, are hereby incorporated in their
entireties by reference.